Mother Tongue Language

Find out how the Mother Tongue Language programme at PL builds confident bilingual students through language skills, cultural appreciation, and real-world communication.

Last updated 6 August 2026

Vision / Mission

To cultivate confident communicators in the Mother Tongue Languages who demonstrate a strong passion for and appreciation of their cultural values and heritage.

Curriculum

PL Bilingualism Framework

The PL Bilingualism Programme is a two-pronged, school-wide initiative anchored in the Mother Tongue Language (MTL) Curriculum. It is a collaborative effort involving School Management, Teachers, Parents, Community Organisations, and Vendors, all working together to nurture PL-Lites as confident bilinguals.

Aligned with the overarching goals of MTL education, the programme supports students in Learning Languages for Life over their 4 to 5 years at PL. It is built upon the three broad objectives of MTL education:

Communication – Building proficiency in the use of the Mother Tongue Languages in daily and real-world contexts
Culture – Developing appreciation and understanding of cultural values and heritage
Connection – Strengthening personal and communal identity through meaningful engagement with language and culture

These objectives underpin the 2021 Secondary MTL Curriculum, shaping its Content (Language Skills, Language Knowledge, Cultural Values), Pedagogical Approaches, and Assessment Practices. The PL Bilingualism Programme thus serves as a comprehensive platform to equip students with both linguistic competence and cultural rootedness.

Circular diagram with four colored quadrants labeled Sec 1-5, surrounded by Communication, Connection, Culture rings.

Subjects offered

PL offers the following Mother Languages at G1, G2 & G3 levels:

Chinese
Malay
Tamil
Higher Chinese
Higher Malay
Higher Tamil

Our Assessment Approach

Our department’s assessment framework is designed to progressively develop and strengthen students’ key language skills across the year. Each term focuses on a specific aspect of language learning to ensure a balanced and comprehensive acquisition of skills.

Term 1: Oracy Presentation
Focuses on enhancing students’ speaking and presentation skills through structured oral tasks.
Term 2: Reading Comprehension
Develops critical reading and analytical skills through exposure to a variety of texts and question types.
Term 3: Writing Practice
Builds students’ ability to write with clarity and coherence across various formats—narrative, expository, and practical writing.
Term 4: Year-End Examination
Assesses overall language proficiency and consolidates learning outcomes across all key skill areas.

Enrichment and Competitions

Our department provides students with diverse opportunities to participate in language and cultural competitions at the cluster and national levels. Through writing, translation, public speaking, performance, media production and language-based challenges, students apply their Mother Tongue Languages meaningfully beyond the classroom. These experiences build their confidence as communicators, develop creativity and critical thinking, and deepen their appreciation of their respective languages and cultural heritage.

Chinese Language